Not seen for 120 years: Small rabbit with black tail found in Mexican Mountains

A dedicated search carried out by a team of biologists found a rare species of cottontail rabbit endemic to Mexico. It was the first time in 120 years that this species of rabbit was seen. Describing this rare species, known as the Omiltemi cottontail rabbit, José Alberto Almazán-Catalán, a biologist who led the search, said that it is totally different from the regular cottontail.

It is quite easy to recognize the Omiltemi cottontail rabbit due to its small and black puffball tail. This rabbit was last sighted by scientists in 1904 and was feared extinct. Things changed after a five-year-long search in the Sierra Madre del Sur mountain range of Mexico , which led to its discovery, after which it was confirmed that the rabbit still exists.

“Just knowing that it had been 100 years, and no other scientist had seen a live [Omiltemi] rabbit is incredible,” José Alberto Almazán-Catalán was quoted by Good News Network as saying. “It’s totally different from the regular cottontail, and I was completely amazed and very happy to have had that opportunity to see one,” the biologist added.

How the search for the rabbit unfolded

Almazán began the search for the Omiltemi cottontail rabbit at its last known position, where it was last sighted back in 1904. During that time, it was a very rural area, but it’s now a forest on the edge of Chilpancingo, the capital city of the state of Guerrero, Good News Network reported. The area is home to a population of more than 200,000 people.

With no trace of the Omiltemi rabbit, the hunters in 2020 moved their attention to conifer forests at higher elevations. As they reached there, the hunters came across another kind of hunter known as subsistence hunters. These hunters had seen the rabbit very recently on their dinner plates. Due to the fact that Omiltemi breeds well, just like a rabbit, this species has been able to replenish rapidly despite not being seen by scientists since 1904 and also being in an extremely restricted area. The population grows from late winter to late spring, and locals occasionally capture them for food.

“Eighty percent of the objectives of this project have been achieved,” said Almázan. “However, we still need to learn more about the natural history of this species.”

13 most wanted species rediscovered, says Re:Wild

According to a statement from Re: Wild, the Search for Lost Species has rediscovered 13 of its “Most Wanted” species: Jackson’s climbing salamander in Guatemala, Wallace’s giant bee in Indonesia, velvet pitcher plant in Indonesia, silver-backed chevrotain in Vietnam, Somali sengi in Djibouti, Voeltzkow’s chameleon in Madagascar, Sierra Leone Crab in Sierra Leone, Pernambuco holly in Brazil, De Winton’s golden mole in South Africa, Attenborough’s long-beaked echidna in Indonesia, Fagilde’s trapdoor spider in Portugal, big puma fungus in Chile, and the Omiltemi cottontail rabbit in Mexico, according to Good News Network.

Re:wild is a wildlife conservation organization that works to protect and restore biodiversity.